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Systemic Innovations for a SusTainable reduction of the EuRopean food waStage

Project description

New solutions to reduce food waste

In the EU, around 89 million tonnes of food waste are generated annually; an estimated 20 % of the total food produced is lost or wasted. The EU is committed to reversing this trend, which has a huge environmental impact. In this context, the EU-funded SISTERS project will design the first European short-chain platform for farmers to sell their discarded production. Smart and reusable food containers will be designed to diminish food losses during transportation, and bio-based and home-compostable packaging solutions will be implemented to improve the preservation and quality of food. Bringing together 18 partners from eight EU countries, the project will address the issue of food waste and its impacts, and lead towards more sustainable consumer behaviours.

Objective

Only in the EU, we generate every year around 89M tonnes of Food Loss and Waste (FLW), accounting for 20% of the total food
produced, with costs estimated at ?143 Bn, impacting each stage of the Food Value Chain.

In SISTERS, we propose a set of systemic innovations addressed to reduce FLW generated in every stage of the Food Value Chain in
Europe that will solve main existing challenges in Production, Processing, Marketing (retailing/wholesaling), Consumption, and the
Logistics among stages.

SISTERS will design the 1st European Short Chain Platform for farmers to sell their discarded production, favouring local economies,
providing access to nutritious and healthy food to the less favoured consumers. Smart and reusable food containers will be designed
to diminish food losses during transportation, maintain bulk and packed food in ideal conditions with new accurate sensors allowing
immediate reaction. Moreover, to improve the preservation and quality of food a set of bio-based and home-compostable
packaging solutions will be created reducing their potential negative impacts in the environment. A novel SISTERS Seal of
Excellence will promote sustainable practices among retailers. While the information provided to the consumers with QR and
dynamic labelling incorporated in the packaging is expected to impact on retailers and consumers sustainable awareness, thus
reducing the discard of food and associated FW. With these cross-sectorial innovations, we will achieve an ambitious environmental
& economic impact of the current dynamics in the food system, contributing to the reduction of FLW and to change the
unsustainable consumer behaviours. With the support of the EC, SISTERS will be a key EU project addressing the problem in a holistic
way, reducing FLW by 27.4% and CO2 emissions by around 20% in the case studies.

Our interdisciplinary SISTERS consortium consists of 18 partners from 8 European countries, with wide expertise in fighting FLW from
Farm

Call for proposal

H2020-LC-GD-2020

See other projects for this call

Sub call

H2020-LC-GD-2020-4

Coordinator

FUNDACION AITIIP
Net EU contribution
€ 1 347 735,00
Address
POLIGONO EMPRESARIUM, CALLE ROMERO N 12-14
50720 Zaragoza
Spain

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Region
Noreste Aragón Zaragoza
Activity type
Research Organisations
Links
Total cost
€ 1 347 735,00

Participants (21)